Alexander Riegler

The focus of this paper is the process of knowledge acquisition (KA) and which role virtuality plays in this context. We argue that there are three dif-ferent modes of knowledge acquisition which can be identified both in the domains of cognition and science: the empirical, the “ ...

Alexander Riegler • Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium • riegler/at/constructivist.info > Context • The enactive approach to cognition affirms the relevance of the study of lived experience within cognitive science. > Problem • Taking experience as the phenomenon of investigation, while at the same time recognizing it as a necessary medium of any scientific activity implies theoretical, epistemological, and methodological challenges that have to be addressed in order to undertake the scientific study of experience. At the same time, it calls for a development of an alternative, non-objectivist and non-representationalist framework for and by addressing those challenges. > Method • After presenting the development of the idea of cognition as enaction and pointing to its consequences for the understanding of science, we situate the scientific study of experience within the enactive approach, presenting neurophenomenology as the methodological implementation of the enactive framework that motivated the development of first-person methods. We distinguish the micro-phenomenological interview and descriptive experience sampling as examples of such methods, reviewing their distinctive features. > Results • Understanding first-person research against the background of the enactive approach is shown to be crucial for bringing about the radical epistemological shift that an enactive position entails. > Implications • The examination of the relationship between first-person research and enaction makes it possible to clarify the ground from which to address the specific challenges that arise in studying lived experience. Investigating these challenges is necessary for developing a coherent research program for the enactive scientific study of experience. >

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium • ariegler/at/vub.ac.be > Context • More than 20 years ago Varela initiated a research program to advance in the scientific study of consciousness , neurophenomenology. > Problem • Has Varela's neurophenomenology, the solution to the " hard problem, " been successful? Which issues remain unresolved, and why? > Method • This introduction sketches the progress that has been made since then and links it to the contributions to this special issue. > Results • Instead of a unified research field, today we find a variety of different interpretations and implementations of neurophenomenology. We argue that neurophe-nomenology needs to give additional attention to its experiential dimension by addressing first-person methods' specific challenges and by rethinking the relationship between the frameworks of the first-and third-person approaches.

ABSTRACTIn recent years, various computational models have been developed for studying the dynamics of belief formation in a population of epistemically interacting agents that try to determine the numerical value of a given parameter. Whereas in those models, agents’ belief states consist of single numerical beliefs, the present paper describes a model that equips agents with richer belief states containing many beliefs that, moreover, are logically interconnected. Correspondingly, the truth the agents are after is a theory (a set of sentences of a given language) rather than a numerical value. The agents epistemically interact with each other and also receive evidence in varying degrees of informativeness about the truth. We use computer simulations to study how fast and accurately such populations as wholes are able to approach the truth under differing combinations of settings of the key parameters of the model, such as the degree of informativeness of the evidence and the weigh...

This paper discusses the notion of repre- sentation and outlines the ideas and questions which led to the organization of this volume. We argue for a distinction between the classical view of referen- tial representation, and the alternative concept of system-relative representation. The latter refers to situated cognitive processes whose dynamics are merely modulated by their environment rather than being instructed and determined by it.

When a snake is chasing a mouse, it uses its eyes exclu-sively. None of the other sensing modalities of the snake are involved [Sjölander, 1995]. When it comes to strike the mouse, the snake switches to olfaction. It then “as-sumes” that the prey is no longer able to move and starts to ...

This paper addresses the epistemological background of the constructivist artificial life (CLife) approach and sketches the cognitive architecture based on CLife. The approach aims at providing a new cognitive architecture which shows how an individual creates his or ...

ABSTRACT Context: On 12 November 2010, Ernst von Glasersfeld passed away. He was one of the most important, if not the most important, proponents of constructivist philosophy. Problem: In his life Ernst influenced many other scientists and philosophers. By whom was he himself influenced; who shaped his intellectual development? By collecting contributions from those who knew him closely or have an excellent understanding of radical constructvism we aim at presenting a cartography of the past and current state of affairs of radical constructivism. These contributions should also shed light on the question of the legacy that Ernst leaves behind. Method: Some 25 authors accepted our invitation to contribute to this commemorative issue. Some texts are reminiscence essays expressing their friendship with Ernst, others are academic papers that investigate Ernst’s influence in various disciplines. Two contributions Ernst von Glasersfeld authored himself. Results: Ernst von Glasersfeld is described as an intellectual mentor for many of his students. His legacy is alive in many disciplines ranging from education science to linguistics. Implications: Ernst’s impact on mathematics education is described in some detail in these articles. However, his impact on science education has also been extensive. Constructivism is a foundation stone in the thinking behind the curriculum in many countries and this collection of papers should be useful to practitioners and researchers in education. We think that the work on conceptual analysis could be used more fully as a tool for modelling emerging concepts and hope that the articles here will facilitate interest in this aspect of Ernst’s work.

Eines der größten Probleme in der Artifical Life ist die Frage, wie Lebewesen mit dem "Information Overload" zurecht kommen, dh wie sie aus der Flut der Umweltreize die für sie relevante Information in Echtzeit herausfiltern. Ausgeklügelte informationsverarbeitende Mechanismen wurden ...

Purpose: Radical Constructivism has been subject to extensive criticism and denigration such as that it is a naturalized biologism which supports an "anything goes" philosophy of arbitrarily constructed realities. In an extreme case RC is equated with intellectual silliness. These ...

Purpose – The paper serves as an introduction to the special issue on Heinz von Foerster. Major episodes of his life are sketched and related to his scientific convictions regarding transdisciplinary research and radical constructivist. In the second part the contributions to the issue are ...

Interdisciplinary research provides inspirations and insights on how a variety of disciplines can contribute to the formulation of an alternative path to artificial cognition systems. It is suggested how results from ethology, evolutionary theory, and epistemology can be condensed into ...

... Konstruierte oder konstruierende Seele? Gedanken zum Seelebegriff aus kognitiv– konstruktivistischer Perspektive Alexander Riegler CLEA, VUB Krijgskundestr. 33, B-1160 Brüssel, Belgien Gemäß des Konstruktivismus sind wir die Konstrukteure unserer eigenen Welt ...

Context: On 12 November 2010, Ernst von Glasersfeld passed away. He was one of the most important, if not the most important, proponents of constructivist philosophy. Problem: In his life Ernst influenced many other scientists and philosophers. By whom was he himself influenced; who shaped his intellectual development? By collecting contributions from those who knew him closely or have an excellent understanding of radical constructvism we aim at presenting a cartography of the past and current state of affairs of radical constructivism. These contributions should also shed light on the question of the legacy that Ernst leaves behind. Method: Some 25 authors accepted our invitation to contribute to this commemorative issue. Some texts are reminiscence essays expressing their friendship with Ernst, others are academic papers that investigate Ernst’s influence in various disciplines. Two contributions Ernst von Glasersfeld authored himself. Results: Ernst von Glasersfeld is described ...

The relationship between our actions and their perceivable results is ruled by what we call the laws of nature. It is general understanding that our actions act upon real objects which react according to the laws of nature what then can be perceived. Virtual Reality Facilities (VRFs) simulate the action-perception relationship in a physically correct manner but whithout involving real

... hesitant to use) based on his work in Ceccato's group, the operational and correla-tional approach on which the Lana project was built ... It starts with Gebhard Rusch's contribution which builds on the claim that constructivist approaches bridge the gap between the cogni-tive and ...